this desire, that Basil felt as if he would have given
all he had in the world--Black Hawk, perhaps, excepted--to be the master
of this prairie steed. Throwing a lasso, as Basil could, and mounted as
he was, it would strike you that he might soon have gratified his wish;
but it was not so easy a thing, and Basil knew that. He knew that he
might without difficulty overtake and fling his noose over some of the
"fags" of the herd; but to capture the leader was quite another thing--a
feat _never accomplished upon the prairies_, even by the Indians
themselves. He had often heard this, nevertheless, he was determined to
try. He had great confidence in the speed and bottom of Black Hawk.

He communicated his determination to his brothers, in a whisper--lest he
might frighten the mustangs, now circling very near. Lucien tried to
dissuade him, offering as a reason, that it would lead them from their
course, and might separate them from each other.

"No," said Basil. "Go on to the butte, you and Francois. I shall come
to you--perhaps I may be there before you. Do not say a word,
brother,--you need not. I _must have that horse_; and I shall capture
him if it cost me a fifty-mile gallop."

While Basil was speaking, he drew closer to his left stirrup, looked to
the lasso that hung coiled upon the horn of his saddle, and then stood
ready to mount. Lucien saw it was of no use to urge his advice farther,
and ceased to interfere. Francois would fondly have joined Basil in the
chase; but his diminutive pony rendered the idea too absurd to be acted
upon.

During all this time the wild horses had continued their evolutions. At
intervals they would halt at a signal from their leader, and wheel into
line, facing inward towards the little group. In this position they
would remain for a few seconds, with heads erect, gazing with curious
wonder at the strange intruders upon their domain. Some of them would
paw the ground, and snort as if in anger. Then the foremost would utter
his shrill neigh, and all would go off again, circling about as before.

They had got within less than two hundred yards of where the hunters
stood, but it was evident they intended coming no nearer. On the
contrary, they showed symptoms of bearing off. At each fresh movement
from a halt, they turned their heads for the prairie, and then came
circling back again--as though they had not yet quite satisfied their
curiosity.

During their last halt--or